Re: Why hydrogen does not have a neutron?

"Uncle Al" <UncleAl0@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote

>> He-3 + Be-9 -> 3He4 + 19.00421 MeV

Thanks again, Al, for the help.

> Fusion of highly charged nuclei is a no-go for a power reactor.

I can think of several reaction pathways that do not require 'surmounting
the coulombic barrier'.

1a. A cosmic ray with enough energy collides with a Be-9 nucleus to release
a neutron.
1b. An ambient neutron collides with He-3.

2a. He-3 + n -> He4* -> energetic charged particles.
2b. He-3 + n -> He4* -> He4 + virtual gamma.

3. virtual gamma + Be9 -> 2He4 + n

There is a phenomenon called 'radiationless energy transfer' that can couple
two transition dipole moments that are in close proximity. Theoretical
calculations require difficult quantum mechanics. However, the efficiency of
the process is given by:

Efficiency = 1/(1+(r/R0)^6)

R0 is the distance at which the efficiency is 50%.

So long as the dimensions are small, process 3. is favored.

> (BTW, D-T fusion is a no-go for a power reactor.)

It is hard to surmount the coulombic barrier. Muon catalyzed D-T fusion is
easy but muons are expensive to make and they are short-lived.

> He-3 is ungodly expensive and will never be otherwise.

I have been unable to discover the commodity price for Helium-3. I have
evidence of a controlled market. My isotopes catalogs say that Helium-3 is
listed as a "national security item". Elsewhere in the catalogs it is
explained that export of Helium-3 orders in excess of $5000.00 require an
export license for "approved countries", from the U.S. Department of
Commerce and an End-Use Statement. The application process requires 4-6
weeks for approval.

I have no idea of what quantity of Helium-3 can be purchased for $5000.

I am a professional nuclear engineer working within the continental United
States so I don't anticipate a lot of needless paperwork. I have no plans
for export.

> You won't be allowed to shape your Be shell by intervention of the EPA,
> OSHA, and Homeland Severity.

There are many scaling laws in engineering. Gulliver's law says that for any
given quantity of energy (or power), the intrinsic economic value or utility
of an energy source (or power source) scales as 1/D^2 where D is the linear
dimension of the source. So for a given quantity of energy, a source that is
1/1000 the size of another is $1,000,000 times more valuable. 19.00421 MeV
is a big number. I don't need to make the device large. I think the
dimensions of a BB would be more appropriate for a hollow Be sphere filled
with He3 under pressure.

My catalog says that beryllium powder can be had for $320 for 50 grams.
That's pocket change. And there are NO (EPA or OSHA) restrictions of the
purchase of beryllium. Heck, it's not like we are talking about the purchase
of controlled drugs. Granted, beryllium is highly toxic, so I would need to
work in a well ventilated fume cupboard and exercise any other safety
precautions indicated.

I am a professional nuclear engineer. I can provide all required
documentation should 'Homeland Severity' come knocking on my door.

As far as licensing, I am a profession nuclear engineer and I would not
anticipate any licensing problems. The whole project is so inexpensive, I do
not need any help from an outside funding source. All I need is good
engineering advice.

Will you kindly provide me more advice? Thanks in advance.

Best Regards,

Ian St. John


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